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 Prince Charles could speak yet? 'When he does,' said Villeroy, who has been a courtier for forty years, 'the first sentence he ought to say is 'God bless the King of France.' 'Not so,' answered his Majesty, laughing, 'let him learn the Jacobite countersign, "Box it about, it will come to my father!" If they only "box it about" enough,' he added, 'that child in arms should be as sure of the British crown as I am of the French!' This is almost a declaration in form. It is considered so in Paris. The King's sentiments can no longer be called doubtful, and with the strong party that I have every reason to believe exists in England disaffected to your present Government, surely the time for action has arrived. They thought so at St. Omer, in a conclave to which I am a mere mouthpiece. I should think so myself, might a humble novice presume to offer an opinion; and when the movement takes place, if Sir George Hamilton is found where his blood, his antecedents, his high spirit and adventurous character are likely to lead him, I have authority to declare that he will be Sir George Hamilton no longer. The earl's patent is already made out, which any moment he pleases may be swallowed at a gulp, for digestion at his leisure. I have said my say; I have made a clean breast of it; send for Slap-Jack and your venerable butler; put me in irons; hand me over to your municipal authorities, if you have any, and let them drag me to prison; but give me another glass of that excellent claret first, for my throat is dry with so much talking!"

Sir George laughed and complied.

"You are a plausible advocate, Florian," he observed, after a moment's thought, "and your powers of argument are little inferior to your skill in fence. But this is a lee-shore, my good friend, to which you are driving, a lee-shore with bad anchorage, shoal water, and thick weather all round. I like to keep the lead going on such a course, and only to carry sail enough for steerage-way. As far as I am concerned, I should wish to see them 'box it about' a little longer, before I made up my mind how the game would go!"

"That is not like you!" exclaimed the Jesuit hotly. "The Hamiltons have never yet waited to draw till they knew which was the winning side."